Following TRIO Fund Legal Victory, Attorney General Raúl Torrez Meets with Students Whose Futures Were Protected

Hobbs, NM – Behind every dollar restored to New Mexico’s TRIO programs is a student working to overcome real barriers to higher education. This week, Attorney General Raúl Torrez visited New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) to meet directly with students whose academic paths were safeguarded after the New Mexico Department of Justice successfully defended more than $13 million in TRIO funding in federal court.

The federal TRIO program supports low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities by providing critical academic, financial, and mentoring resources that help make college possible. For the students at NMJC, the restored funding means continued access to the support systems that keep them enrolled, progressing, and on track to graduate.

“The students I met with put faces to the funding we fought to protect,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez.“Their stories make clear why this work matters. These are determined, hardworking students who deserve every opportunity to succeed, and our legal action helped ensure they can continue pursuing their education and their future.”

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“The Attorney General broke down the lawsuits he filed on our behalf – as well as other TRIO programs in New Mexico – against the current administration.” said Adam Guillen, Jr., NMJC Director of Student Support Services. “And I have to say I am proud of our students who made the effort to come in after classes are already done, and campus is empty, to show their unity and share their experience, their story and to brag about the program. To us, it was a huge deal because in my twenty years with TRIO here on campus we have never had someone of his stature come visit our program. So, we are thankful we are not in this fight alone.”

In October, Attorney General Torrez joined 20 other attorneys general in filing two amicus briefs supporting the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) in a pair of lawsuits against the Trump Administration for its decision to cut off the TRIO funds – ultimately pressuring the federal government to withdraw its decision and reinstate the funds. The attorneys general argued that retroactive application of new anti-DEI policies had already forced longstanding TRIO programs across the country to close, denying critical academic, counseling, and retention support to low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. The briefs urged the court to halt the unlawful cuts, noting the severe and long-term consequences for students, institutions, and state economies if funding were not restored.

The litigation saved over $13 million in federal funding for New Mexico TRIO Programs – $1.67 million of which benefits the NMJC program. There are 42 TRIO programs located at 16 higher-educational institutions serving more than 10,000 students.